Tag Archives: bodyguards

Rosh Hashana begins this Wednesday evening, the day G-d created Adam and Eve. The new year of 5778 is just around the corner, a new year filled with new chances, new beginnings, new hope, new dreams, new dangers. WAIT? What? What was that last bit? New DANGERS? Huh? How does that fit in?

On the 24th after Rosh Hashana is Tzom Gedaliah Fast Day. Who was Gedaliah and why are we fasting? From Chabad, the snipped version:

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonia, had accomplished his purpose. He had completely subdued the Kingdom of Judah and destroyed its capital of Jerusalem and its most sacred shrine, the Holy Temple. He had slain or captured most of the royal family and the nobility of the land. The upper classes of the Jewish people, including the leaders of the priesthood and the chief civil and military officers, were led captives en masse to Babylon. Many of them were mercilessly put to death at Riblah. Judah was crushed and bereaved of its best sons.

However, Nebuchadnezzar did not wish to turn the land of Judah into a complete desert. He permitted the poorer classes to remain in Judah to till the soil and to tend their vineyards. Over them Nebuchadnezzar had appointed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, as governor.

Gedaliah was a wise man, gentle and modest. He zealously began to encourage the people to cultivate the fields and vineyards, and thus lay the foundation of security. Under the wise administration of Gedaliah, the Jewish community began to prosper. Its fame began to spread abroad. Many Jews who had fled to places of safety in neighboring lands during the war of destruction were attracted by the news of the revival of the Jewish community in Judah.

Among the refugees who had joined Gedaliah in Mizpah was Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, a descendant of the royal house of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. Ishmael was an ambitious man who would stop at nothing to attain his goal. The honor and success that Gedaliah had won filled him with cruel jealousy. Ishmael began to plot against Gedaliah.

The conspiracy became known to Johanan, the son of Kareah, a devoted officer of Gedaliah. Johanan warned the governor of the danger threatening his person. Gedaliah, however, being of a true and generous nature, shrank from believing such treachery. When Johanan offered to slay Ishmael secretly before the latter could carry out his evil plans, Gedaliah indignantly rejected the proposal.

Ishmael bided his time. He was invited by the governor to a feast at Mizpah on Rosh Hashanah. Ishmael arrived at the banquet in the company of ten followers. During the feast, the ruthless band attacked and slew the governor. Having assassinated their host, they commenced a terrible massacre. Ishmael murdered many prominent followers of Gedaliah, and put to the sword the small Chaldean garrison stationed at Mizpah. His murderous deed accomplished, Ishmael left Mizpah with many captives, heading for Ammon.

Johanan and a few of his brave men had escaped the massacre, for they were not in Mizpah at that time. When Johanan learned of the terrible tragedy, be rallied additional help and pursued the assassin. Overtaking Ishmael near Gibeon in Benjamin, Johanan succeeded in freeing the captives.

And that was the end of the Jewish community in Judah until the return of the Babylonian exiles in the year 3390 (371 BCE).

Every year brings new and different dangers to us all. I am shamelessly cabbaging this video from Y.B. ben Avraham

When Upper East Side dad Michael planned a French getaway for his family this summer, his first move wasn’t to book a hotel. Instead, he contacted armed guards.

Each morning in Paris, Michael (who requested a pseudonym because of privacy concerns), his wife and their 10-year-old son would stroll out of the Hotel George V, where suites can go for $5,000 a night, to meet their personal security detail: two strapping ex-military men who cost $2,000 a day.

That would be each, and they usually don’t work alone. In case you are in the market, I got these prices from Executive Protection Services. For a private citizen? You know, your average Jane or John Doe, 30 days of continuous Protection – $30,000/month. If you need more, for example you’re anti-gun like Rosie, George or most all of Hollyweird, 30 Day Continuous Protection – $50,000/month or there’s Hollywood Bodyguard Services – $500,000/year.

But I suppose I understand it. What with the four American women just attacked in France by a “mentally ill” woman. Which is how the French now seem to be describing muslim attacks. These women had acid thrown in their faces. A popular activity from the religion of pieces. As I mentioned in another column acid attacks have risen world wide. From the Gateway Pundit

There have been 1,500 recorded acid attacks in London since 2011 according to British media.

The Daily Caller reported that acid attacks in London are up 250% in the last year or so.

Or let’s say you’re Jane or John Doe, who happen to live, work or want to go to the hospital in St. Louis. St. Louis is the site of the latest outbreak of “peaceful protests” against white police killing poor black heroin dealers without any reason other than they backed into a police cruiser as the police were approaching him, then sped off narrowly missing the police officer. The angelic heroin dealer then went on a chase which ended when another officer rammed his car. Both officers got out of their car, the suspect was told to show his hands, that didn’t happen and the police officer in question said the dealer was going for a gun. The state tried to claim the officer planted the gun, the state was unsuccessful in proving that claim and the judge observed

Judge Wilson noted, “Finally, the court observes, based on nearly thirty years on the bench, that an urban heroin dealer not in possession of a firearm would be an anomaly.”

If you haven’t met Kevin Jackson, you should. He’s very cool beans and smart. He runs the Blackosphere. He really is a nice guy. He pretty much lays it out.

"The real tragedy is that Anthony Lamar Smith was dealing heroin and we act as if he's Rosa Parks."On "FOX & Friends Weekend," Kevin Jackson gave his take on the acquittal of a police officer in the killing of Anthony Lamar Smith. http://fxn.ws/2vZxJP7

Whatever the officer did or didn’t do, whatever the heroin dealer did or didn’t do, the result is the same. A verdict was handed down saying the officer was not guilty. And the now more or less predictable happened. The liberals, antifa, blms protested fascism by becoming a mob of fascists. They rioted, destroyed private property and attacked police officers, injuring 11 of them. There’s a list of the injured and property damage here. They shut down roadways blocking access to two hospitals, basically shut down a shopping mall with the inane saying “you kill our kids we kill your sales”, and broke windows in a Macy’s store while screaming “black lives matter”. Yeah, boy howdy. Nothing says social justice and the heroin dealer was an angel like attacking people and property to prove your point. I don’t feel too bad about Mayor Crewson’s house though. Unlike when Jay Nixon-Demoncrat was Governor though, Governor Eric Greitens is having none of it. Thugs will not be allowed to run amuck without consequences, there have been arrests made and he, unlike Nixon, is backing the police.

I still believe that while there are a few bad apples in every profession, the majority of the police officers do want to help people, do want to save lives and serve. If they get there in time, and if they are around when something bad happens to you, they will help. If you want more assurance than that, perhaps the answer is the personal bodyguards. Isn’t it interesting that all these anti-gun politicians and celebrities have armed personal bodyguards? Of course I still maintain that the first anti-gun vote a politician makes, they should be stripped of their citizen funded bodyguards. They think guns are too dangerous? Fine, live like the rest of us, of course with their salaries, they can probably afford the bodyguards.

The dangers in 5776 were a plenty, some man created like the riots and terrorism, some nature. The result is the same, you may find yourself unexpectedly in a bad situation with bad people. Gedaliah had soldiers, they didn’t stop the assassination. In life there are no guarantees. But there are odds, and there are warnings. Gedaliah was warned, he didn’t want to believe evil in his fellow man. I will. The police may or may not always be good, or they maybe dealing with a massive situation. Bodyguards would be great, they will only focus on who they are hired to protect. If you can afford them. I think the reasonable solution is we are our own bodyguards. For ourselves and our families. As we enter the new year, let us resolve to make 5778 a wonderful and safer year for us all. Let us embrace the possibilities and the joy it offers, but we will not ignore the dangers it brings.